Mark Dowling on his way to winning the Banbridge Criterium last month; he'll go to the line at tomorrow's National Criterium Championships in Cork as the form rider. However, there are plenty in the field - including star turn comeback man Martyn Irvine and the rocket Paidi O'Brien - who can take the title (Photo: Toby Watson)
World Track Champion Martyn Irvine leads a small but quality field for tomorrow’s re-scheduled National Elite Criterium Championships in Cork City, though it is Mark Dowling of Polygon Sweet Nice who goes into the event as the form rider.
UnitedHealthcare professional, Irvine is making a welcome return from the injury he sustained in April at the Tour of Taiwan.
He has already raced of late, though not much, so while he would normally be one of the hottest favourites for the title, it will be interesting to see how far his form has come on since making a return to training and competing.
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The race is being held on a 1.3 kilometre circuit, starting at 5pm in the Mardyke.
Dowling has had a very strong run in the past couple of months, with a string of wins including the Velotec Galway Classic, Brendan Campbell Memorial, Tralee Manor West GP and others.
As well as those road race wins, he has also taken victory in the Bike Worx series in Mondello in the past fortnight, and last month won the Banbridge criterium; victories that show he is very good on short fast outings and not just on climbs, which are his speciality.
Others who should push for the win or podium include Banteer fast-man Paidi O’Brien (Planet Tri) who rode for the An Post-Sean Kelly team in Belgium for several years. And he will be supported by teammates Eddie Barry, Mike Storan and Michael Crowley.
Like Dowling, O’Brien has taken a series of wins this year and at the recent Suir Valley Three Day he won the opening stage, when he out-sprinted Sam Bennett of An Post-Chainreaction, who is perhaps the best sprinter in the country.
O’Brien is a rider who the others will not want to arrive in the company of at the finish because he is always so hard to beat once he gets a run at the chequered flag.
Aside from Mark Dowling, also in the field tomorrow from the Polygon Sweet Nice team is Stephen Halpin. He has enjoyed a number of wins this season and while his best run came some weeks ago, he would not be a surprise winner.
Mick Fitzgerald of Fermoy and Chris Reilly of Bohermeen are also two very strong riders who have shown good form this season. While they have tasted victory this year, it has been rare for both, but if they got a gap at any stage tomorrow they may just convert their string of strong rides this year into a coveted national road title.
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Former national junior champion Liam Corcoran (Nicolas Roche Performance Team) is another who can’t be overlooked.
Simon Ryan returns from France where he has been based for the summer and his experience of criterium racing over there should see him feature, while Tim O'Regan (DID Dunboyne) and last week's winner of the Stafford Wholesale Wexford Two Day John McCarthy both have the ability to make an impact.
The route is fully closed and riders will race around it for 50 minutes, followed by three laps.
The circuit – on the Mardyke Walk and Western Road - is a busy area so there are time restrictions related to the road closures which means riders should arrive early if they want to avail of a few warm up laps on the circuit before the event. Sign-on will be from 3.30pm to 4.30pm at the Mardyke Pavilion (UCC Rugby Pavilion).
The Championships will be run in association with the World Mini Games (www.worldminigames2013.com) so a large attendance, with sportspeople gathering from a wide range of sporting backgrounds, is expected. For more info please contact Brian Horgan, Blarney CC secretary on 086 2743580.
Start List for National Criterium Championships
Saturday, August 24th, hosted by Blarney CC in Cork City
| 1 | Martyn Irvine | 13A+003 | Unitedhealthcare |
| 2 | Stephen Halpin | 13A+010 | Polygon Sweet |
| 3 | Mark Dowling | 13A+014 | Polygon Sweet |
| 4 | Olan Barrett | 13A1012 | Aqua Blue |
| 5 | Joe Fenlon | 13A1021 | Aqua Blue |
| 6 | John Lynch | 13A1026 | |
| 7 | Michael Hennessy | 13A1049 | Fermoy |
| 8 | Michael Fitzgerald | 13A1057 | Fermoy |
| 9 | Tim O’Regan | 13A1058 | DID |
| 10 | Simon Ryan | 13A1064 | |
| 11 | Paidi O Brien | 13A1068 | Planet Tri |
| 12 | Edward Barry | 13A1076 | Planet Tri |
| 13 | Chris Reilly | 13A1083 | Bohermeen |
| 14 | Ryan O Donovan | 13A1190 | Cork Co |
| 15 | David O’Mahony | 13A2026 | Blarney CC |
| 16 | Maurice Lawlor | 13A2052 | Aqua Blue |
| 17 | John-Paul Lyons | 13A2082 | |
| 18 | Russell Treacy | 13A2087 | St Finbarrs |
| 19 | Richard Barry | 13A2116 | St Finbarr’s |
| 20 | Michael O’Mahony | 13A2123 | Blarney CC |
| 21 | John Mccarthy | 13A2178 | |
| 22 | Denis Lynch | 13A2188 | |
| 23 | Stephen Mcgrath | 13A2318 | |
| 24 | Jamie O Donoghue | 13A3052 | |
| 25 | Alan Brosnan | 13A3058 | |
| 26 | Alan Clogher | 13A3100 | |
| 27 | Ian Redmond | 13A3148 | Fermoy |
| 28 | Peter Barber | 13A3152 | St Finbarrs |
| 29 | Peter O Brien | 13A3197 | |
| 30 | Bernard O’Sullivan | 13A3251 | Blarney CC |
| 31 | Aidan Forrest | 13A3287 | Blarney CC |
| 32 | Robert Forrest | 13A3362 | Blarney CC |
| 33 | Kieran Crean | 13A3426 | Blarney CC |
| 34 | Cronan O Doibhlin | 13A3468 | St Finbarrs |
| 35 | Mike Williams | 13A3475 | Blarney CC |
| 36 | Brendan O’Leary | 13A3505 | Blarney CC |
| 37 | Dave Reilly | 13A3516 | |
| 38 | Denis Forrest | 13A3536 | Blarney CC |
| 39 | Stephen Allen | 13A3628 | |
| 40 | Timothy Hayes | 13A3775 | Ballymore |
| 41 | Michael Crowley | 13A3837 | Planet Tri |
| 42 | Mark McCarthy | 13A3886 | Blarney CC |
| 43 | Kevin Hayes | 13JR085 | |
| 44 | Liam Corcoran | 13JR120 | NRPT |
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